One of the most significant changes in music in Egypt in the
Graeco-Roman period was the introduction of Greek-style musical
notation. Separate systems of notation indicated instrumental
and vocal pitches, while various markings and implicit signals
showed rhythm in both systems. It is from Greek papyri from Egypt
that most examples of Greek musical notation are known-these papyri
preserve passages from Greek literary texts with vocal notation
(such as the famous Michigan musical papyrus), as well as instrumental
passages, possibly also from theatrical performances. The music
thus notated follows Greek tradition; there are, as far as we
know, no pieces of indigenous music notated in the Greek style.

Papyri from Graeco-Roman Egypt also provide a wealth of information
about music beyond notation. Theoretical treatises on music, rules
for musical contests, contracts for hiring musicians and incidental
references to music and musicians in documents all add to our
knowledge of what ancient music was like and how music fit into
the life of Graeco-Roman Egypt. The Papyrus Collection at the
University of Michigan Library contains a number of papyri relating
to music; for further information about the collection visit its
website. To see information
about Michigan papyri relating to music, go to the homepage of
the University of Michigan
Advanced Papyrological Information System and search the database
for "music".